Administration of a plasmid that expresses SDF-1α affects the oncogenic potential of mouse bcr-abl-transformed cells
Abstract
Stromal derived factor 1α (SDF 1α, also known as CXCL12) is a chemokine that exerts its effects through the G protein coupled receptors, C X C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) and 7 (CXCR7). There is marked evidence that the SDF 1/CXCR4 axis is involved in the pathogenesis of leukemia and therapies that target this axis are under development.
The present study aimed to increase the efficacy of a DNA based bcr abl vaccine by simultaneously immunizing mice with a plasmid carrying the whole SDF 1α gene. Bcr abl transformed 12B1 cells were used to challenge the mice.
These cells have the oncogenic potential to induce both leukemia following intravenous inoculation and lymphoma type solid tumors after subcutaneous inoculation. Administering an SDF 1 carrying plasmid together with the bcr abl vaccine resulted in increased survival.